plan to be

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "plan to be" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when expressing an intention or future goal regarding a state of being or position. Example: "I plan to be a successful entrepreneur in the next five years."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

Few people plan to be estate managers.

The New York Times - Magazine

"I plan to be there tomorrow".

The New York Times - Sports

I plan to be with Jade.

The New Yorker

The bloggers plan to be careful.

Independent

Kinsela didn't plan to be a wrestler.

The Guardian - Sport

We all plan to be completely insufferable!

The Guardian - Sport

Small businesses also plan to be defensive.

The New York Times

"It's tough to plan to be 96".

The New York Times

Did you always plan to be a chef?

The New York Times

"Until then I plan to be incredibly frivolous and nocturnal".

The New York Times

They plan to be married in the near future.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "plan to be", ensure the context clearly indicates a future intention or goal. For example: "I "plan to be" fluent in Spanish by next year."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses within the same sentence when using "plan to be". Keep the verb tense consistent to maintain clarity. Instead of "I planned to be there, but I will be late", use "I planned to be there, but I will be unable to make it."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "plan to be" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a future intention or goal. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is correct and usable in written English. Examples show it used to indicate aspirations, expectations, and intended actions.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "plan to be" is a grammatically correct and frequently used expression to indicate future intentions or goals. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it is versatile and applicable across various contexts, although most commonly found in news and media. Alternative phrases like "intend to be" or "aim to be" can offer a more formal tone, while maintaining a similar meaning. When using "plan to be", remember to maintain consistent tense and ensure that the intended meaning—a future aspiration or goal—is clearly conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intend to be

Replaces "plan" with "intend", emphasizing a firm decision.

aim to be

Substitutes "plan" with "aim", suggesting a goal-oriented approach.

expect to be

Uses "expect" instead of "plan", indicating anticipation rather than intention.

hope to be

Replaces "plan" with "hope", conveying a desire with less certainty.

aspire to be

Substitutes "plan" with "aspire", suggesting a higher level of ambition.

anticipate being

Uses "anticipate" to focus on the expectation of a future state.

propose to be

Replaces "plan" with "propose", indicating a formal intention.

design to be

Focuses on the purpose or intention behind a design or strategy.

scheme to be

Suggests a more elaborate or strategic plan.

envisage being

Replaces "plan" with "envisage", suggesting a mental picture of a future state.

FAQs

How can I use "plan to be" in a sentence?

Use "plan to be" to express your intentions or future goals. For example, "I "plan to be" a doctor" or "They "plan to be" married next year".

What's a more formal alternative to "plan to be"?

For a more formal tone, you can use alternatives such as "intend to be" or "aim to be".

Is it correct to say "planning to be" instead of "plan to be"?

Yes, "planning to be" is grammatically correct, but it implies an ongoing or current intention, while "plan to be" expresses a general future intention. It depends on the context you want to convey.

What's the difference between "plan to be" and "hope to be"?

"Plan to be" indicates a firm intention, while "hope to be" suggests a desire or wish with less certainty about the outcome.